Back Alley Dealings

[arcanethesis]

Monarch settled past some rather intoxicated patrons making their way through the threshold of the establishment he was entering, herded by the cantina's bouncer. With a quiet nod to the bouncer as the half-Gamorrean moved past, Monarch claimed a table in the corner under a dimming light. Not that was to say much, this place was hardly bright; Monarch noted to himself in the route of sneering cynicism his internal monologue had been taking recently that many people in this establishment probably couldn't handle too much artificial lighting, much less daylight.

As physically intimidating as the droid may seem, he didn't have much experience, technically being only 3 months old, with only a week and a half in the field personally. Nonetheless, much of those three months were spent studying ways to gather information, track down information brokers in order to corner Jedi and get the drop on them. Hopefully, getting a low-down on everything he needed to know to survive in the post-war galaxy from someone with their ear to the ground.

Monarch managed to identify the general neighbourhood by "accessing" a local guard's data tablet, which, in case of the murder or kidnapping of that guard, periodically drops markers that can be followed at a station. By following the long-term backlog of markers, Monarch identified a region that seemingly was rarely patrolled, if at all. From there, it was simply a matter of asking around hang-outs, offering a few credits here or there and eventually he gets a name.

And then another name, seemingly for the same person. The consistent details seem to revolve around a well-connected female Trianii, evidently connected and dangerous enough that interfering with would be a very poor (and possibly final) decision.

Nonetheless, it seemed to be a good starting point, as with a specific person in mind, Monarch managed to acquire an anonymous address to arrange a meeting. Now that Monarch had arrived at the middle grounds, he interlaced his metallic fingers with a light chink and waited.

[Arina Fawzi]

It wasn't a common occurrence to have meetings arranged. In fact, this is the first time ever that someone had been able to track Arina down. That is what scared her most about the arrangement today; Arina thought she was untraceable. Then again, how many female Trianii wandered the galaxy like she did? Not too many.
Maybe it shouldn't have been that much of a surprise after all.

Despite her worries, for there were many greater fears to have, Arina dolled herself up and proceeded to make her way to the rendezvous. She was even wearing her good beads and decorations, as to not let down her reputation... if she had one.
Not much was known about her 'hunter'. She had attempted to squeeze ever drop of information about this 'Monarch' from everyone and anyone. Nothing. Running blind into a situation was also something new for her.

Brushing through the doors and past people to make it inside was the easy part. The real trick was finding this so called Monarch without looking like a fool. Play the cards right, and this could work out well in her favor.
Making her way to the bartender, her keen eyes filtered through the crowd. Seated at a far table was a droid... an impressive looking droid... and for a moment she was completely awestruck by its complex design. More importantly were its hands... neatly before it... as if it were waiting.
A smirk, as much as a cat could smirk, etched its way across her face as she ordered a drink.
Did droids feel? Would her charm be of any use? Curious. She had never really met a droid before... at least a droid that wasn't used for serving drinks or interpreting Huttese.

Deciding to test her luck, she approached the droid as she would any other man, strutting her way to the table casually. Her drink glowed a bright cyan blue, accenting her eyes as she raised it to her jaws for a drink. “Now what’s an impressive looking droid like you, doing in a place like this?”

[arcanethesis]

Monarch was discovering that his preservation protocols and security subroutines had issues with his current objective and location. In his limited experience, he had never had waited on a physical rendezvous, especially for someone outside of the Confederacy. There was a particular level of risk involved in treading this close to the criminal underbelly of a planet and then waiting for said underbelly to arrive in such an establishment. Monarch’s conscious personality was consistently aware of the activity of everyone else in this room in case they acted suspiciously.

Which wasn’t much help, because everyone in this room was suspicious. Brief flashes of small hold-out blasters, one illicit substances deal occurring on the other side of the room and everyone eyeing the exits from time to time reminded Monarch that he arrived in the right kind of place. This sense of apprehension and repeated security checks was the closest thing to nervousness the droid had experienced. Nonetheless the risk remained passive for now, so Monarch could concentrate on making sure this meet went over cordially at the very least.

Droids are uploaded with a distinct personality, but reaction on an emotional level is completely different for them than reaction on an instinctive threat-based level. At least for Monarch, as a droid with priorities for combat above interaction, that separation has to exist to be a consistently effective soldier.

As a female Trianii walked into the room, Monarch’s background checks swept around the room. If this was her, and the reports would be accurate if so, and this room was a trap, it at least wasn’t a good one. Several of the patrons noticed her, presumably recognizing her station or role. It was only after that threat assessment that Monarch posited another possibility for their noticing her immediately. Perhaps she was attractive for a Trianii; he noted several colourful beads entwined with her fur. Nevertheless, Monarch waited patiently as she recovered a drink from the bartender and strutted over to his table, a slight smirk on her lips.

“Now what’s an impressive looking droid like you, doing in a place like this?”

Slow walk. Consistent eye connection. Accented syllables on “impressive,” “you” and “this.” Facial muscles correlated to surprise and awe. Monarch drew the conclusion she was intrigued by a droid being the one to have contacted her personally, and one with a more intricate armour structure than most.

The flirtatious air was likely intentional, but the curiosity was genuine.

Monarch leaned back, draping a long metal arm over the back of his chair in a pose imitating a relaxed or amused organic. “I was waiting for a young lady to have a conversation with me about the changing times we live in and the transferences of power.”

Monarch tilted his head lightly, his single eye glowing a deep scarlet as he looked up at the Trianii. “Please, take a seat.” He extended his free arm to gesture to the available spot across from him.